by Ron Collins
Hirl-enat relaxed as he reached to take it.
Sorcerous energy from the plane of magic poured into Neuma’s mind. She twisted it, letting the power dance across her fingers, its aura a bluish green as it crossed over gates she had already prepared.
Hirl-enat’s defense was too late.
Neuma’s forked charge filled the chamber—a single blast of electricity that shook the area’s walls. Hirl-enat’s shield imploded with its own force.
The elder mage died before he knew what had happened.
Silence and the odor of roasted flesh settled over the room.
Neuma stooped to examine Hirl-enat’s body. It was charred and crisped. She could barely contain her smile. Her stomach did flip-flops. The expression on the old man’s face had been perfect.
I knew it, that expression had said. I knew you were a traitor!
Better a conniver, she thought, than a fool.
She rose and checked her link again, searching once more for a connection to Ettril, but there was no response. After such a long absence, the Koradictine high superior was almost certainly now dead. And she had personally taken out Quin Sar and Hirl-enat.
Neuma’s grin spread across her face, and she sighed with contentment.
It could not have worked out any better.
There was much to do, though, and little time for celebration. The Lectodinians had damaged the order, but she had something new in her favor now. She had followed Ettril’s link to the god-planes of All Existence. She had felt Hezarin’s raw anger and sensed how far the planewalker would be willing to go for her vengeance.
Hezarin had lost her mage.
But she would help Neuma now, because Neuma could help Hezarin. The challenge would be arriving at a plan that dealt with both the Lectodinians and Garrick at the same time.
Tricky, but achievable.
She straightened her robe, then left to take control of her order.
* * * * *
This is the end of Changing of the Guard, but the story of Garrick, Neuma, and the struggle between the planewalkers continues in Lord of the Freeborn, due to be published February of 2015!
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The Saga of the God-Touched Mage includes:
Glamour of the God-Touched
Trail of the Torean
Target of the Orders
Gathering of the God-Touched
Pawn of the Planewalker
Changing of the Guard
Lord of the Freeborn
Lords of Existence
APPENDIX
* * * * *
Map of the Plane of Adruin
image by Ron Collins
Acknowledgements
The universe of Adruin and All of Existence has many people to thank for its existence, not the least of which are Tim Brown, Mike Cox, Ken and Jackie Peters, and my wife, Lisa.
I need to single out a few others for their efforts beyond all the rest.
My friend, collaborator, and pre-reader John Bodin's help was—as always—superlative. I want to thank my daughter, Brigid, for stepping into the fray when I needed her. And I want to give thanks to my cover artist, Rachel Carpenter, who was great fun to work with and who did a fantastic job bringing Garrick to life.
Mostly, though, I have to thank Lisa for everything she's done for me. The Saga of the God-Touched Mage has gone through more twists and turns than I could ever have predicted when the idea first hit, and she's been with me through every step. (Don't worry, honey. It's really done. Really, I mean it. It's done. You don't have to read it for the 111th time!).
About Ron Collins
Ron Collins is an award-winning author who lives in Columbus, Indiana, with his wife, Lisa.
Pawn of the Planewalker is the fifth volume in the eight-part Saga of the God-Touched Mage. Ron published Five Magics, a collection of his short fantasy, in 2012. Five Magics includes two tales from Dragon Magazine, a Marion Zimmer Bradley’s FANTASY MAGAZINE Cauldron Award winning story, and another tale that was awarded Honorable Mention in Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling's “Years Best Fantasy.”
Ron is the author of two road trip, alternate-history, fantasy, science fiction baseball novels, the first being See the PEBA on $25 a Day (2010), and the sequel being Chasing the Setting Sun (2014).
He has contributed numerous short stories to professional science fiction publications including Analog, Asimov’s, and Nature. His writing has received a Writers of the Future prize, and a CompuServe HOMer Award. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and worked developing avionics systems, electronics, and information technology before spending a decade in Human Resource management.
Discover other work by Ron Collins at:
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Subscribe to Ron's Ramblings to be the first to hear about new publications!(*)
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The Saga of the God-Touched Mage includes:
Glamour of the God-Touched
Trail of the Torean
Target of the Orders
Gathering of the God-Touched
Pawn of the Planewalker
Changing of the Guard
Lord of the Freeborn
Lords of Existence
How You Can Help
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Table of Contents
Blurb
Title Page
Other Work
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
Book 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Book 2
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Book 3
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Book 4
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Book 5
Chapter 36
Chapter 2
Epilogue
Appendix
Acknowledgements
About Ron Collins
How You Can Help
